Pope Benedict XVI addresses the audience on the last day of the 2010 Synod for Bishops on the Middle East. (Reuters/L'Osservatore Romano )

Sep. 18, 2012

Key Participants for New Evangelization Synod Announced

CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY/ EWTN NEWS

VATICAN CITY — Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles and 34 other clergymen were announced Sept. 18 by the Vatican as synod fathers for the upcoming assembly of bishops on the New Evangelization.

The synod fathers include Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the college of cardinals; Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna; Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, England; Bishop Dominique Rey of Frejus-Toulon, France; and Father Julian Carron of the Communion and Liberation movement.

Archbishop Gomez is the only American among the 35 synod fathers, who are tasked with guiding the discussions of the assembly’s meetings.

"I am both grateful and humbled that our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has appointed me to the special Synod of Bishops next month in Rome," Archbishop Gomez stated. "This appointment also signals the significance of the Los Angeles Archdiocese — one of the world’s largest and most diverse archdioceses — in the promotion of the New Evangelization. The synod’s focus, 'New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith,' is especially important because each of us is called by our baptism to tell the world about Jesus and about the joy of believing in him."

The archbishop added, "Jesus is the answer to every question in every human heart, yet communicating this simple but profound truth in today's world can often be a challenging task. I look forward to collaborating with my brother bishops from throughout the world and the Holy Father as we address the New Evangelization in this special synod."

The synod is due to take place Oct. 7-28, and its president delegates are Cardinals John Tong Hon of Hong Kong, Francisco Ortega of Guadalajara, and Laurent Pasinya of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It will bring bishops to Rome from the whole world to discuss the New Evangelization, which is aimed at reintroducing the Catholic faith in lands where it was previously present.

The gathering will be guided by a working document, issued June 19, which is the result of consultation with the worldwide Church for more than a year.

According to that document, the New Evangelization must provide “an adequate response to the signs of the times, to the needs of individuals and people of today and to the new sectors with their cultures, through which we express our identity and the meaning of our lives.”

The synod coincides with the Year of Faith, which will begin Oct. 11 and is meant to be a moment of grace to strengthen Christians’ faith and joy in proclaiming Christ to the world.

The synod of bishops was established in 1965 by Pope Paul VI to “foster the unity and cooperation of bishops around the world with the Holy See.”

There are two categories of synod: general and special. The last special gathering was held in 2010 to focus on the Church in the Middle East, while the last general assembly was held in 2008 on the “Word of God.” The upcoming meeting on evangelization will fall into the general category and will be the 13th of its kind.

When we love our neighbors we will never TOLERATE their sin. We must help everyone to get to heaven.
Admonishing Sinners and Instructing the Uniformed are the first two Spiritual Works of Mercy.
What makes my angry - heresy, schism, relativism, secularism, and UNNECESSARY ignorance against the Church instituted by Christ - the Church He instituted to save many Souls.
You apparently are not interested in the teaching Christ through His Church, so I’m not going to repeat the above suggestion to you where you can get the info you seek about the Family - but you keep trying to change the topic away from EVANGELIZATION and POPE BENEDICT’S INSTRUCTION to read the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” in Porta Fidei. And I will do my best not to let you sidetrack the Pope’s message with one of your own.

Posted by Trebert on Wednesday, Sep, 26, 2012 8:31 PM (EST):

Anne,

What is making you so angry? Matthew 18

What are you afraid of? Psalm 27

Why do you feel the need to attack the messenger? 2 Corinthians 4

My message was clearly about seeing family through God’s eyes.

Posted by ANNE on Wednesday, Sep, 26, 2012 5:41 PM (EST):

This article is about EVANGELIZATION. You are avoiding the topic and trying to redefine this blog space.
However, you can not accurately teach your own FAMILY or any Family if you do not know the truth which is accurately contained in the CCC.
FYI - “FAMILY” is in the CCC in 82 separate paragraphs - if you wish to read it. There is not the space here to go over everything with you, nor is this the correct article linking to your desire to know more about “Family”. You might try asking your question on ‘Catholic Answers’. Someone there will help you.

Posted by Trebert on Wednesday, Sep, 26, 2012 11:16 AM (EST):

Anne,

As I said from beginning the issue is not a catechism, the issue is what constitutes a family today?

Please don’t sidestep the question.

If God calles us all to be One, then what do you (not the Church, not any dogma or doctrine,or a catechism) see as family today?

Posted by ANNE on Tuesday, Sep, 25, 2012 2:36 PM (EST):

Trebert,
One can not ACCURATELY evangelize the TRUTH if they do not know it.

The source you need to read is the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” from the Magisterium (- which includes our Pope).

If you check out Pope Benedict’s Year of Faith (Porta Fidei) on Evangelization on the Vatican web site you will find out that it INCLUDES - the CCC.
QUOTE - - - “ In its very structure, the Catechism of the Catholic Church follows the development of the faith right up to the great themes of daily life. On page after page, we find that what is presented here is no theory, but an encounter with a Person who lives within the Church.” “It is in this sense that the Year of Faith will have to see a concerted effort to rediscover and study the fundamental content of the faith that receives its systematic and organic synthesis in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.” – Pope Benedict XVI (Porta Fidei, Moto Proprio Data)

If you disagree with Pope Benedict on this, write to him at the Vatican.

Discover or REDISCOVER and STUDY the CCC.

Posted by Trebert on Tuesday, Sep, 25, 2012 11:16 AM (EST):

Anne, Allentown and others,

The topic here is evangelization and family relationships and not so much of the status of a catechism. It is about what evangelization means to us in the inclusive sense. God called us all to be as One – one catholic or universal family.
This stands in direct contradiction of those who want to decide who is part of that family. If exclusion is our focus than we may already be guilty of ‘missing the mark’ (sin) Witness the many dysfunctional families. I doubt if your family is any more or any less than my dysfunctional family. The Christian challenge than is to accept our families where they are, not where we would have them be according to some unrealistic formula. How is God calling us to bring your family together? Who belongs? Who doesn’t? Lastly how is the Church helping to bring families together?
Your personal and private response to these questions is what is important.

Posted by Allentown on Monday, Sep, 24, 2012 12:07 PM (EST):

@Trebert. You’re playing games to suggest that the Dutch Catechism should be taken to be a catechism at the level of the current Catechism of the Catholic Church. In fact, the serious doctrinal deficiencies of the Dutch Catechism and others like it is one of the reasons the Catechism of the Catholic Church was promulgated. AS soon as the Dutch Catechism was released, Pope Paul VI appointed a special commission of cardinals to examine the book’s orthodoxy. This commission detailed ten areas where the Dutch Catechism was doctrinally deficient and needed to be corrected.The corrections Rome ordered to be made in the Dutch Catechism were never made.

The Dutch catechism is a flawed (and dated) “interpretation” of the Church’s teaching. The CCC IS the teaching of the Church, uninterpreted and official.

Lastly, I’m not sure what you’re insinuating by raising the issue of the “brothers” of Jesus. However, if it amuses you, I’ll inform you of the Church’s infallible teaching on the matter and the current state of exegesis on the text. First, the Church’s infallible teaching. The New Testament is explicit that Mary was a virgin at the time she conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Christian tradition—later infallibly affirmed by the Church—acknowledges that she remained a virgin afterwards. The great majority of Christians acknowledges this. Second, the exegesis of the text. The word for brother, “adelphos” in Greek has a variety of meanings. It can mean full blood brother as well as half-brother (male sibling sharing one biological parent), step-brother (male sibling sharing one parent by marriage), and adoptive brother (male sibling adopted into the family). It can be given figurative meanings, such as “comrade,” as when military men are described as “a band of brothers.” Lastly, since there is no aramaic word for “cousin”, in this chase “adelphos” can mean “cousin”. The first Christians in Palestine, not having a word for cousin, would normally have referred to whatever cousins Jesus had with such a general term and, in translating their writing or speech into Greek, it is quite likely that the Aramaic word aha would have been rendered literally with the Greek word for brother (adelphos).

Posted by ANNE on Monday, Sep, 24, 2012 11:37 AM (EST):

Trebert and others, some of whom may be from different Countries than the USA.
The “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH” was promulgated by Pope John Paul II, in 1994 per the Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum.
There were translation errors in the English language version and the corrected copy was released in 1997 via Apostolic letter, Laetamur Magnopere.
You will find both of these Apostolic letters in front of the CCC and on the Vatican web site.
You can find the corrections that were made in” Editio typica modifications to the Catechism of the Catholic Church” on the (licensed by the Holy See) web site -http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
The Holy See holds the copyright to the CCC.
In the USA the first issues of the accurate translation were printed in March, 2000.
In the USA the corrected cover is dark green, and this color may vary from Country to Country.
The CCC is printed in many languages around the world.
Local catechisms that are more apropriate for certain younger age groups or less literate socities can be used. These will not be as complete as the CCC regarding the teachings of the Church.

“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved ... and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “ – Pope John Paul II. (pg 5)

Posted by ANNE on Monday, Sep, 24, 2012 11:02 AM (EST):

Trebert, if you read what you originally posted, you said Jesus’s “OWN Family” tried to kill him, you did not say people in the town.

There have only been two Catechisms from the Magisterium of the Church -
the first was: ‘The Catechism of the Council of Trent” and the second is: “The Catechism of the Catholic Church” - second edition.

You are mixing up ‘LOCAL’ catechisms some of which are correct, while some leave out important teachings due to the audience they cator to.
NONE of which are - CATECHISMS of the CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Local catechisms are good for age appropriateness - such as children, and for less literate societies.
Any catechism which proclaims to be “THEE” “Catechism of the Catholic Church” and does not contain “Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum” by a Pope, - is a fraud.

On the back cover of the CCC you will find this verbiage -
” The first new compendium of Catholic Doctrine regarding faith and morals in more than 400 years, the Catechism of the Catholic Church stands, in the words of Pope John Paul II, as “a sure norm for teaching the faith: and an “authentic reference text”.

Your confusion is understandable, since some Bishops and Priests have not promoted the reading of the CCC within their own Diocese.

Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict have asked us to read the CCC as you will see by the quotes on the web site. Pope Benedict has specifically stated so in his Moto Proprio -Porta Fidei - for the upcoming YEAR of FAITH.
The real / complete CCC is on the Vatican web site. A link is provided in the web site below.

I have the same Catholic approved bible as you, if perhaps only for a different version. However, the story of about Jesus being persecuted can be found here:

In an account recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 13:54-58, Luke 4:16-30) Jesus is strongly rejected by the people of his hometown, which Luke specifies as Nazareth. This incident takes place after the Temptation of Jesus in the Judean desert.

In Matthew and Mark the crowd is also described as referring to Jesus as being the brother of James, Simon, Joseph, and Judas (in Mark they also mention, but do not name, Jesus’ sisters) in a manner suggesting that the crowd regards them as just ordinary people, and criticizing Jesus’ quite different behavior.

As for the Catechism the following may surprise you.

There have been several official Roman Catholic Catechisms since the Council of Trent. It will surprise some readers that these have not always agreed on every aspect of Catholic belief or faith –perhaps none more so as it affects the question of homosexuality.

‘A New Catechism – Catholic Faith for Adults’, The Seabury Press, New York, NY., (1973) ISBN 0-8164-1070-4 Nihil Obstat: Leo J. Steady, Censor Librorum. Imprimatur +Robert F. Joyce, Bishop of Burlington, September 1969. In the years following its issue, this Catechism was the only comprehensive book of its kind within the Church.

A New Catechism better known as the ‘Dutch Catechism’ was the first post-Vatican II Catholic catechism. It was commissioned and authorized by the Catholic hierarchy of the Netherlands and went through various publishers after reaching the North American market.

The above publication was the popular Catechism for Roman Catholics during the sixties and seventies. My wife and I originally received our (1967) copy from the Church upon completion of Interfaith classes in Toronto. Today Catholics are perhaps more familiar with the 1983 version of the Catechism of the Catholic Church from the CCCB.

The 1973 edition in comparison to the current Catechism is more user friendly; completely devoid of the ‘top down’ legalistic format and archaic language associated with the current 1983 edition from Rome.

The 1973 edition is still valid and legitimate for many practicing Catholics and available along with the Baltimore Catechism. In fact, the current 1983 edition reads: “This catechism is not intended to replace the local catechisms, duly approved by the ecclesiastical authorities, the diocesan Bishops and the Episcopal Conferences, especially if they have been approved by the Apostolic See.”

Posted by ANNE on Friday, Sep, 21, 2012 12:41 PM (EST):

Trebert,
I don’t know what Bible you are using, but no where in any reasonable version did Jesus’s own family try to kill him.
Jesus never tolerated sin, and neither should we.
Please do not try to imply that others are God - Jesus. They are not.
We follow the teachings of Jesus, because he is God.
Just what do you have against the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” ? ? ? - and please be specific.
Your beliefs seem to be that of RELATIVISM where there is no right and no wrong. Your beliefs certainly are not Catholic.
Please go to: http://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com
QUOTE - “ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved ... and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. “ UNQUOTE – Pope John Paul II. (pg 5)
The Catholic Church is not a salad bar where people can pick and choose what they want to believe. Catholics are Catholic because they want to be, and if they are, they must follow the teachings of the Faith.

Posted by Trebert on Friday, Sep, 21, 2012 11:17 AM (EST):

Anne,

I truly hope that you can accept the fact that Jesus was considered a heretic by many of his religious leaders of his time. His own family thought he was crazy and tried to kill him.
If anyone truly wants to get rid of heresy and schism than follow Jesus’ advice and accept people where they are, NOT were others would have them be.
As for the scandal (sexual abuse) that is another matter still awaiting the necessary humility from our church to deal with the systemic and endemic issues that resulted in the scandal in the first place.
History has shown that religious fundamentalism (ridgid and uncompromising belief system) will only bring us more violence - witness the current events taking place in the middle east today. Islamic extremist are merely doing what Christians did more than a thousand years ago - and sometimes I think we’re still doing it.
Trust in your heart not in an institution - ‘God is nearer to me than I am to myself’- Meister Eckhart

Celibacy is not the problem with increasing vocations. I live in a small town. After the long time Lutheran pastor retired, they have had great difficulty filling the spot, even though they accept women and married clergy. As for evangelization, we need to hear more of the truths of the faith from the pulpit and what distinguishes the Catholic Church from other Christian faiths. John 6 brought my mother back to the Church of her Baptism after she spent all of her childhood and part of her adult life in a protestant church.

Posted by ANNE on Thursday, Sep, 20, 2012 9:43 AM (EST):

In writing (and with documentation if possible) report details of any Priest to the Diocese Bishop who violates Church teachings regarding: ABORTION, HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE, and FREEDOM of RELIGION.
These are NON-negotiable.
If the Bishop does not stop the Priest within a reasonable period of time (allowing for contact and investigation), then write to the US Papal Nuncio in Washington DC, and the Vatican.
Heresy and Schism and Scandal must be stopped within the Church, and we all have an obligation to help make this happen.
Use your “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” to verify all Church teachings. The CCC must be taken in entirety, not picking and choosing only certain teachings.
Go to: ” What Catholics REALLY Believe Souce” for links.

I agree with the first post by Robert. It’s time to come back to the Catholic faith we were raised with. It’s time that the Bishops tend to their flock and speak out against the progressive priests that just ignore the homosexual and pro-choice issues. It is never discussed from the pulpit in the Church and the complete lack of communication to the Catholics in the pews regarding the groups like Catholics United for the Common Good that back candidates who are pro-choice and homosexual issue advocates. Catholics need to know there are wolves in sheep’s clothing invating our Church. There is no discussion to warn parents of liberal schools like Georgetown who takes down the Cathilic IHS symbol where the President is speaking because he requests it. If the President wishes to speak at a Catholic University he takes the school for what it stands for Jesus Christ. Thank goodness for the Cardinal Newman Society. Perhaps if the priests has the courage to speak out some of these schools would lose students and the schools would come back to teaching true Catholicism and moral teachings. The American Catholic Church is failing and it frightens me to think what New Evangelization means in today’s world.

Posted by vance on Wednesday, Sep, 19, 2012 10:57 PM (EST):

I don’t know what to think about this. The church needs a great ‘House Cleaning’ of liberal activists who are going against the church and driving people away. We need new leaders who will defend the church and its Holy Sacraments.

Posted by Trebert on Wednesday, Sep, 19, 2012 9:37 PM (EST):

For many Christians the words ‘to Evangelise’ means “teach people about Jesus Christ as saviour.” This understanding is derived from the instructions issued by Jesus himself as contained in the Gospels. St. Luke (4:43) for example records Jesus saying: “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose”. Jesus subsequently conferred the same mandate upon his apostles: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole of creation” (Mark 16:15). Evangelization is not only the responsibility of the bishops and the clergy, but of “every disciple of Christ, according to his or her ability” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, n. 17)

Jesus evangelized in more than word. He cured the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead, and gave hope to the poor, however conversion to a particular faith carrying his name is not mentioned anywhere in the four Gospels. Since Jesus was a Jew it would have been logical that he would have insisted that his listeners adopt his Jewish tradition. Not so. The conversion that Jesus spoke about, time and time again, was a conversion of the heart! Evangelization for Jesus meant adopting a new way of life. Jesus was talking about living a life with others where we would share kingdom values such as compassion, understanding, forgiveness, peace, acceptance, etc. This is how Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God, and said that we are already in the kingdom if we live according to these values.

Posted by Tim on Wednesday, Sep, 19, 2012 4:22 PM (EST):

“Obstinately holding on to celibate clergy.”

Classic comment there.

Thank goodness for our Holy Father’s commitment to Christ, his teachings, and all of the holy traditions of Mother Church. Celibacy is not the issue…commitment to what is good and holy, strong and faithful leadership by our bishops, evangelizing our youth as to the wonderful opportunities as religious, and having SOLID seminary instructors are the issues.

Posted by ANNE on Wednesday, Sep, 19, 2012 2:57 PM (EST):

Any evangelization which does not include the “CATECHISM of the CATHOLIC CHURCH, Second Edition” as requested by Pope Benedict as stated in “Porta Fidei, Moto Proprio Data” - is not true Evangelization. Why is this left out of most articles ?
Too many errors are taught otherwise across the USA.
The literate USA needs the CCC more than ever with the Heretics, Schismatics, and Scandals.
Since Abp Gomez caters to the Mexican citizens rather than the USA as a whole, I hope he takes all of us into consideration - if he is the only Bishop representing the USA.
The CCC comes in most languages including Spanish.

I thought Cardinal Donald Wuerl and Arch Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller were part of this. Was I mistaken?

Posted by Gene on Wednesday, Sep, 19, 2012 9:58 AM (EST):

Obstinately holding on to a celebate clergy while closing churches due to a lack of clergy does not bode well for “new evangelization”

Posted by Allentown on Wednesday, Sep, 19, 2012 8:39 AM (EST):

Sad to say, but in my Diocese, some of the 60-something priests appear to need evangelization (or at least catechesis). Instead of proclaiming the Gospel, or teaching the faith (i.e. things one could find in the catechism). Instead, they would rather preach their own political views (e.g. the evils of a “trickle down economy”) or some half-baked theology (“when you receive the Eucharist, you are receiving yourself” whoa). Save it for your blog, Father, or your facebook page. Your brilliant ideas are not filling the pews. How about we try the Catholic faith for a change?!

Posted by robert waligora on Wednesday, Sep, 19, 2012 7:10 AM (EST):

the evangelization should begin with the Shepherds themselves in upholding the Catholic Churches Teachings and then correcting the prochoice catholics

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